Swansea v Chelsea (PL) 13/04/14 KO 16:07 BST

[Zola]

The Blues march on after an amazing night against PSG. The boys will be pumped. We have a reasonable rest now to Sunday, so no excuses!

Swansea have won just 2 games in the last 9 (Cardiff and Norwich), and find themselves around 7 points from safety. They will be fighting for their lives with only 5 games remaining.

We simply have to keep on winning to have any hope of the title. Regardless of what happens at the dippers this is a must win game.

[Zeta]

Stupid kick off time. Bloody scousers.

[AnIrishTrueBlue]

Gonna be a big test away at Swansea, think the team will be

 

Cech - Azapilicueta - Ivanovic - Cahill - A.Cole - Matic - Ramires - Salah - Oscar - Schurrle - Ba

 

Im sure that would be Ramires available, I'm sure a rest will be given to JT (hobbling) Hazard (doubt) and Luiz ran himself into the ground.

[Jonty]

I fear there will be a bit of "game after" anti-climax about this, would like to see Ba start to see if he can kick on from his goal, he went to the media after the game saying he's not been given a chance and has just proven what he has done, would like to see him go out and show us.

 

Luiz might need a rest, Matic and Ramires both ineligible for the PSG game so should have plenty of energy, same with Salah.

 

I'd also like to see Ash get a run out. We're going to need him match ready and get that back 4 settled before the first leg, so i'd like to see us start practicing with the back 4 we'll be using in Iva's absence.

 

Swansea like to play out so I think we should play a quick pressing team and force them into some mistakes.

 

Cech

Dave - Cahill - JT - Ash

Matic - Ramires

Salah - Willian - Schurrle

Ba

Edited April 9, 2014 by Jonty

[Lang7]

We simply have to keep on winning to have any hope of the title. Regardless of what happens at the dippers this is a must win game.

Every single one of our remaining games is a must win game if we want the title, and that includes winning at Anfield. We've put ourselves in a bad situation by losing games we shouldn't have and need to take the same desire and spirit from last night and apply it to every minute we're on the pitch - otherwise we'll likely be finishing 3rd.

[Izanagi]

City and Liverpool this day as well.

 

If they draw, which is the best possible result, and we win this we're bang back in the race.

[axman2526]

Why o why are we kicking off after the Liverpool-City game? Usually the match involving two fighters going for the title comes last not first.

 

Oh well, guess we know who we will be gaining points on after coming away with a hard fought 1-2 win.

[theblueone]

I fear there will be a bit of "game after" anti-climax about this, would like to see Ba start to see if he can kick on from his goal, he went to the media after the game saying he's not been given a chance and has just proven what he has done, would like to see him go out and show us.

Luiz might need a rest, Matic and Ramires both ineligible for the PSG game so should have plenty of energy, same with Salah.

I'd also like to see Ash get a run out. We're going to need him match ready and get that back 4 settled before the first leg, so i'd like to see us start practicing with the back 4 we'll be using in Iva's absence.

Swansea like to play out so I think we should play a quick pressing team and force them into some mistakes.

Cech

Dave - Cahill - JT - Ash

Matic - Ramires

Salah - Willian - Schurrle

Ba

Absolutely spot on. We definitely want to be easing in those other players now while we can. A baptism of fire in a big game could backfire tremendously.

I would be comfortable with that starting 11.

Edited April 9, 2014 by theblueone

[Gem]

PL... Now I'm nervous again.

[carrickblue]

we'll at least know what happens at Anfield before we go out - I'm sure Jose will inspire a good performance - blue is the colour

[cfcblue]

1-1 ... bizarrely I think we will find this tougher than PSG ... which highlights the strength of the Premiership ...

[enigma]

I'm kind of glad, in a way, that hazard is out, as it takes the pressure off of him and puts it onto the others to perform at their best. Instead of teams worrying about hazard, they now have to worry about willian, schurrle and salah. 

 

Not going to predict a score, but I think chelsea will definitely win this one. Totally different dynamic now that eden is out. Salah comes in and hopefully we drop willian into the no10 role again, where he is looking very good. 

[TrueBlueSeaFC87]

Long time lurker, first time poster.  I think that these next few PL matches will be very important for our semi-final match in the CL.  With that being said this is what I'd have my Starting XI be:

GK: Cech

RB: Dave
CB: Cahill
CB: Terry
LB: Cole

*With Ivanovic being out for the first leg, this is probably gonna be the starting defense for it.  Cole hasn't seen much action this year so he needs to play to get match fit*

DM: Matic
DM: Van Ginkle (if fit, Ramires if not)

*I think Van Ginkle, if fit, could be key to us in the CL.  Lampard and Luiz haven't been solid at DM and with Ramires available for the semi's, it'd be nice to pair him with a legit DM*

AM: Salah
AM: Willian
AM: Oscar

ST: Eto'o (Ba if Eto'o can't go)

Edited April 9, 2014 by TrueBlueSeaFC87

[Izanagi]

We definately know that we'll not be seeing Hazard so I'd want to see Schurrle take his place with Willian and Salah joining him up front. Oscar to make an appearance in the second half to freshen things up. 

 

Up front we should have Eto'o. 

 

Rest of the team is the standard back four with Matic and Luiz in DM.

[felipeluis_4]

Well, cole should play, he needs match practice... and maybe ivan needs a rest, sooooo

cech; dave cahill JT cole; matic luiz; schurrle willian salah; etoo

 

Maybe luiz needs a rest, so maybe ramires in, and willian at the 10 role was awesome last match, salah should have plenty of energy!! etoo if fit

And i would like to see bench appearances. 

Im going for a 3-1, to the blues; two oscar and one etoo, with a solo goal of michu or bony

Edited April 10, 2014 by felipeluis_4

[evissy]

1-1 ... bizarrely I think we will find this tougher than PSG ... which highlights the strength of the Premiership ...

Not about that. The stage is bigger, the preparation is more thorough. The players will take it more serious. Also Prem teams know how to play each other more or less so there is always a chance for the smaller team to win.

[Xfaxtor]

If City win against Pool they have pretty much clinched it, Im going to say I hope Liverpool win, just because I think we can beat them at Anfield and I dont think a draw will cut it.

Need 3 here, nothing else will do.

Edited April 10, 2014 by Xfaxtor

[gussy122]

City and Liverpool this day as well.

 

If they draw, which is the best possible result, and we win this we're bang back in the race.

 

In terms of us winning the title the best result in that game is actually Liverpool winning because we have to beat Liverpool to win the title anyway...........

 

The real danger is still City .

Edited April 10, 2014 by gussy122

[ozboy]

City and Liverpool this day as well.

 

If they draw, which is the best possible result, and we win this we're bang back in the race.

Actually I think the best result is if Liverpool beat Citeh and we beat Liverpuddle. I think that is the only realistic way of us winning the title.

[ozboy]

Ah I see that was already posted

[ozboy]

I would like to see Willian back in the No 10 role. However I think Oscar is running back into form. Would this game suite Salah? Probably as its an away game.  In fact ideally I'd like us to play

Goalie

4

2

2

3

But as it adds up to 12 its probably unlikely.

 

Cech

 

Ivan Gary Terry Dave

 

Ramires Matic

 

Salah  Willian  Shurle

 

 Torres or Ba

 

I suspect though that Salah will be on the subs bench and oscar will start in the middle.

 

I can't see any point in being too defensive from here on.

[ForeverCarefree]

Swansea aren't playing to well with only two wins in their last 10 games, one against fellow relegation candidates Norwich, other back at the start of February against Cardiff. 

 

They're still scoring most games though so we can not afford to be complacent. 

 

I imagine that a few of the players are going to take a while from the match against PSG as it was a physically demanding game.

 

I could see Terry possibly sitting this one out as he seemed to be struggling with a knock for a while in midweek. 

 

Obviously no Hazard, we should learn more about the extent of his injury in Mourinho's pre-match press conference and Ramires serves the last game of his suspension.

 

Going to be interesting to see who gets the nod to start up front for this one as well. Eto'o tends not to start away from home and surely Ba deserves a run out after his heroics against PSG? 

[coco]

Four days rest, then away to Swansea, then another 7 days rest, hopefully that will be long enough for Hazard and JT to recuperate.

 

I can see Jose using Ba at Swansea, with 3 quick players around him, Salah, Willian and Schurrle, they all have pace and can feed off Ba's headers.

 

Luiz to go CB for JT.

 

Ramires and Matic DM.

 

That is a decent team, strong and fast.

 

Swap Willian for Oscar later on, he needs some rest, he must of ran more yards than anyone this season.

[just]

Peter the hat

Ivan Big Gary JT Dave

Luiz Matic

Salah Willian Schurrle

Ba

Subs: Eto'o, Ramires, Schwarzer, Ashley, Lampard, Oscar

[axman2526]

Swansea aren't playing to well with only two wins in their last 10 games, one against fellow relegation candidates Norwich, other back at the start of February against Cardiff. 

 

They're still scoring most games though so we can not afford to be complacent. 

 

I imagine that a few of the players are going to take a while from the match against PSG as it was a physically demanding game.

 

I could see Terry possibly sitting this one out as he seemed to be struggling with a knock for a while in midweek. 

 

Obviously no Hazard, we should learn more about the extent of his injury in Mourinho's pre-match press conference and Ramires serves the last game of his suspension.

 

Going to be interesting to see who gets the nod to start up front for this one as well. Eto'o tends not to start away from home and surely Ba deserves a run out after his heroics against PSG? 

That does sound an awful lot like what was said about Villa before, and since after, we played them as well.

 

Another reason it would be better if this game was before City go to Liverpool. If our win is in the bag already then we can hope for any result other than a City win.

 

However if we fail to win our game, realistically our battle is then with Liverpool for second as it would be asking too much to finish ahead of City if we draw/lose regardless of their result at Anfield.